Comment claiming to be old classmate draws attention online

The Namdaemun Scarf Ajeossi. [SBS 'Masters of Living']
The Namdaemun Scarf Ajeossi. [SBS 'Masters of Living']

A comment left by an online user claiming to be a high school classmate of the "Namdaemun Scarf Ajeossi" — the vendor who became an overnight internet sensation — has itself gone viral.

The YouTube channel Docu Hanbaem spotlighted the comment Sunday while covering the story of the scarf vendor at Hanyang Department Store in Namdaemun Market, Seoul.

The comment, posted on a video about the vendor, read: "I'm a high school classmate. He has such good character that all our classmates are cheering him on. I'm so proud."

Other users rallied around the post. "Seeing a high school classmate say he had great character and that they're proud of him — it just goes to show there's always a reason why people flock to someone," one replied.

However, it has not been confirmed whether the user who mentioned the vendor's character is actually a high school classmate.

The Namdaemun Scarf Ajeossi rose to fame through videos showing him bantering with customers in a Chungcheong dialect, using reverse psychology and good-natured ribbing — telling shoppers things like "Don't spend your money" and "Stop splurging" — while keeping the mood lively. The vendor goes by nicknames only, including "Scarfrio" and "Scarfwoo," derived from American actor Leonardo DiCaprio and actor Cha Eun-woo. The vendor's real name, age, hometown and educational background remain unknown, adding to the public's curiosity.

As the Namdaemun Scarf Ajeossi's popularity has surged, not only shoppers but sightseers and YouTubers from across the country have descended on the area, bringing new energy to nearby businesses. Sales at a convenience store in the vicinity reportedly rose 22 percent following media coverage of the vendor.

Hanyang Department Store asked visitors to refrain from coming on Oct. 28 over safety concerns, then closed temporarily on Nov. 2. Even after resuming business on Wednesday, conditions remained unchanged, prompting the store to deploy three private security personnel. The store closed early on Saturday and shut again temporarily on Sunday.


jshan@heraldcorp.com